US20020132200A1

US20020132200A1 - Structure of safety lighter

Info

Publication number: US20020132200A1
Application number: US09/809,573
Authority: US
Inventors: Chian Hurng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-13
Filing date: 2001-03-13
Publication date: 2002-09-19

Abstract

The present invention discloses an improved structure of a safety lighter, comprising a body which also serves as a fuel reservoir; a fuel valve and a press-down button being disposed at the upper end of the body; a spark-producing roller being disposed at the upper end of the body; and a pyrophoric flint being disposed under the spark-producing wheel, characterized in that the suspended and exposed external vertical rim of the press-down button is surrounded by a safety guard with a predetermined height, thereby such safety guard provides a blocking and delay for the user's thumb at the pressing edge, and staggers the time of ignition by striking the pyrophoric flint and the pressing of the press-down button to turn on the gaseous filed in order to generate an invalid strike.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lighter, more particularly to the structure of a safety lighter having a protective device to prevent children's access, which may cause the occurrence of fire and accidents.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, the structure of a conventional lighter as shown in FIG. 1, mainly comprises a

body

1 capable of accommodating a liquid fuel reservoir, and a base 2 being disposed on the upper section of the body, a spark-producing wheel 3 being mounted in the middle of the base 2, a pyrophoric flint being disposed directly under the spark-producing wheel 3, and a pressing board 5 having its mid-point pivotally coupled to the lower section of the spark-producing wheel 3, and located on the lateral side of the base 2. An end of the pressing board 5 extends its way into the lower section of the spark-producing wheel 3 and adjacent to the base 2. The other side of the base 2 has a gas pipe 6 passing straight into the interior of the body, and the other end of the pressing board 5 being clipped to the periphery of the gas pipe 6. When the user presses down the spark-producing wheel by a finger to rub the wheel against the pyrophoric flint, the user's finger has to press down the pressing board 5 and it simultaneously raises the other end of the pressing board 5 and ignites the gas fuel coming out from the gas pipe 6. Since the pressing board 5 controlling the gas switch suspends and exposes to the exterior, it is easy to ignite the lighter by the spark-producing wheel, and hence is dangerous for a child who plays with the lighter, and it may easily cause injuries and damages.

Therefore, in summation of the above description of the structural design of the lighter, particularly a safety structure is the research and development subject for enhancement. The inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry conducted extensive research to enhance the structure of a safety lighter herein which is hereby submitted for patent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a safety lighter, and it staggers the time for ignition and the delay time for opening of the gas, so that the unintended user cannot rub the spark-producing wheel and press down the pressing board to ignite the lighter. It further gives a relatively ideal safety protection measure.

To make it easier for our examiner to understand the objective of the invention, its structure, innovative features, and its performance, we use two preferred embodiments together with the attached drawings for the detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiment. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0009]
FIG .[0010] 1 shows the illustrative structure of a conventional lighter.
FIG. 2 shows the three-dimensional diagram of the disassembled parts of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0011]
FIG. 3 shows the planar diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0012]
FIG. 4 shows the three-dimensional diagram of the disassembled parts of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0013]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation of a lighter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0014]
FIG. 6 is another diagram showing the operation of a lighter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3. The improved structure of a safety lighter according to the present invention mainly comprises a [0016] body 10 which also serves as a fuel reservoir; an ignition base 11 being disposed at the top of the body 10, and a supporting panel 12 being extended upward from both lateral sides at the middle section of the ignition base 11 along its axial direction. There is a spark-producing wheel 13 being coupled to the top of the supporting panel 12, and a pyrophoric flint 14 being disposed under the spark-producing wheel presses against the bottom side of the spark-producing wheel 13. The ignition base has a fuel valve 15 on a side at the top of the ignition base 11, and the bottom of such fuel valve 15 leads directly to the interior of the body 10. The middle section of a press-down button 16 is mounted between the two supporting panels 12, and being disposed under the spark-producing wheel 13, wherein the front end of such press-down button 16 being clipped to the periphery of the outlet of the fuel valve 15 is able to control the passage and turning on and off of the fuel valve 15. A supporting flange with predetermined width around the periphery of the ignition base 11 corresponding to the outlet of the fuel valve 15 is sleeved to the bottom part of a hollow metallic wind-shielding hood 20 to guard the flame at the top of the fuel valve from being escalated. The metallic wind-shielding hood 20 corresponding to the position of the fuel valve 15 has a circular sheath 21, and a clipping panel 22 on each side of the circular sheath 21 such that the external wall of the supporting panel 12 of the ignition base 11 is clipped on both sides. The rear end of the press-down button has a pressing board 161 for the user's to press such portion by his/her finger, and the bottom of such pressing board is received and supported by a spring 162. The other end of the spring 162 is placed inside a depression 112 of the ignition base 11.
The present invention mainly features that the peripheral at the top of the [0017] ignition base 11 corresponding to the periphery of the press board 161 of the press-down button is integrally formed and a safety guard with appropriate height is set and extended along the vertical direction, thereby the peripheral surrounding of the pressing board 161 restricts the operation of opening the gas valve only with a specific angle at the middle of the pressing board 161. It also makes the rear end of the top of the press-down button 16 being slightly protruded from the horizontal height of the safety guard 17. Such arrangement provides a safety guard 17 for the user's press-down operation by his/her thumb, and such safety guard 17 provides a blocking and delay while the user is pressing down the spark-producing wheel 13, so that it makes the pressing down movement more difficult to open up the gas valve by pressing the pressing board 161 of the press-down button. It can stagger the time of igniting the pyrophoric flint and the time of turning on the gas valve resulting an incorrect ignition operation or producing an invalid ignition motion.
In addition to the foregoing embodiment, the present invention can be implemented as in the second preferred embodiment as described below. Please refer to FIG. 4. Unlike the previous embodiment, the [0018] safety guard 17 at the top of the ignition base 11 is formed as an integral part with the clipping board 22 at the rear side of the foregoing metallic wind-shielding hood 20 allowing it to be sheathed directly into the periphery of the entire ignition base 11. The integral part of the metallic wind-shielding hood and the safety guard 17 can be located exactly on the external rim along the pressing board 161 at the rear end of the press-down button 16, so that it can also stagger the time of igniting the pyrophoric flint 14 and the time of opening the gas valve.
Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 6 for the operation of the present invention. When the intended user such as an adult ignites a lighter, the user presses the spark-producing [0019] wheel 13 by his/her thumb such that the spark-producing wheel rubs against the pyrophoric flint 14. The fingertip further presses down to extend it to the internal side of the safety guard 17 resulting that further moving down of the pressing board 161 until it reaches a depth to open up the fuel valve 15. As shown in FIG. 6, the other end of the press-down button 16 turns on the outlet of the fuel valve 15 and produces a flame. If an unintended user such as a child picks up the lighter and plays with it, and when the unintended user's thumb presses the spark-producing wheel 13, it will be blocked by the safety guard 17 and delay the ignition timing. Such arrangement staggers the time of rubbing the spark-producing wheel 13 against the pyrophoric flint 14 to timely press down the pressing board 161. Right at this critical moment, the front end of the press-down button 16 cannot be lifted successfully to open up the passage for the outlet of the fuel valve 15. Without any supply of gas fuel, it naturally cannot produce any sparkle. Although the child may be able to press down the pressing board 161 at the rear end of the press-down button due to the foregoing delay and open up the gas valve, the tiny flame produced by rubbing the spark-producing wheel 13 against the pyrophoric flint 14 by the thumb will wipe out and cannot light the fuel. This feature gives a relatively safe protection measure to prevent fires or accidents caused by children's curiosity of playing with the lighter.
Therefore, in summation of the above description, the present invention herein prevents fire and accidents that may result from the structure of the conventional lighter. It further complies with the patent application requirements and is submitted to the Patent and Trademark Office for review and granting of the commensurate patent rights. [0020]
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. [0021]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A structure of a safety lighter, comprising a body having a fuel reservoir, a fuel valve and a press-down button being disposed at the top end of the body, and a spark-producing wheel being coupled to the top end of the body, and a pyrophoric flint being disposed under the spark-producing wheel, characterized in that the suspended and exposed external vertical rim of the press-down button is surrounded by a safety guard with a predetermtined height, thereby such safety guard provides a blocking and delay for the user's thumb at the pressing edge, and staggers the time of ignition by striking the pyrophoric flint and the pressing of the press-down button to turn on the gaseous fuel in order to generate an invalid strike..

2. A structure of a safety lighter according to claim 1, wherein the height of the top end along the lateral side of said press-down button slightly protrudes the horizontal height of the safety guard.